Author: Dhananjay Mahapatra
Publication: The Times of India
Date: March 4, 2011
URL: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/SC-pulls-up-Centre-on-Hasan-Ali-case/articleshow/7618015.cms
The Supreme Court on Thursday questioned the
government over the progress made into investigations on Hasan Ali, the main
accused in the multi-billion-dollar money laundering and tax evasion case.
"What is in the way of taking action
against Hasan Ali," the court questioned the Centre. "How many years
will investigations continue against Ali?" it added. The court said the
matter was serious and it did not want any delay.
The Supreme Court wanted to know why custodial
interrogation of Hasan Ali and other alleged black money launderers had not
taken place yet.
The apex court also ordered forthwith reinstatement
of three key ED officials allegedly transferred midway into the probe in a
case of foreign exchange law violation by the Pune businessman Hasan Ali Khan.
A bench of justices B Sudershan Reddy and
S S Nijjar also indicated that if the government fails to act, it would be
compelled to appoint a special officer for supervising the probe against the
offenders, PTI reported.
It also asked the government not to treat
LGT Bank account holders as mere tax evaders but investigate their source
of black money.
Khan, who is alleged to have stashed around
USD 8 billion in foreign banks, had been earlier served tax notice for about
Rs 50,000 crore.
When Solicitor General Gopal Subramanium tried
to make certain submissions, the bench virtually snubbed him, saying, "What
the hell is going on in this country."
It then said it was very unfortunate that
the three key officials of the Enforcement Directorate investigating the black
money scandal have been abruptly transferred midway into the investigation.
The bench granted time till Tuesday to the
Centre to file its response failing which it said the court would be constrained
to pass necessary orders.
The apex court has been putting pressure on
the Centre to divulge the names of foreign bank account holders who allegedly
stashed black money while asking it to ensure that one of the main suspects
Hasan Ali Khan did not leave the country.
